How can one become pious?

People actually waste their time talking about politics, sociology, anthropology, and so on. They read many kinds of literature that do not glorify the Supreme Lord Hari, and thus they waste their time. This Krishna consciousness movement is giving everyone a chance to become pious. Punya-Sravana-kirtanah. It is not necessary to give money or bathe in the Ganges. There are many pious activities and many processes recommended in the sastras for becoming pious. However, in Kali-yuga people have lost all their stamina. They are so sinful that there is no question of becoming pious through all these prescribed methods. The only means is hearing about Krishna and chanting His names. Krishna has given us ears to hear and a tongue to speak. We can hear from a realized soul and thus perfect our lives. In this way, we are given a chance to purify ourselves.

Unless we are purified, we cannot become devotees. Human life is meant for purification. Unfortunately, in this age, people are not interested in Krishna, and they suffer through material existence one life after another after another. In one life they may be very opulent. Then they don’t care about the next life. They think, “Let me eat, drink and be merry”. This is going on all over the world, but the sastras say that people are making mistakes in this way. Nunam pramattah kurute vikarmah (BG. 5.5.4): people have become mad with sense gratification, and therefore they engage in all sorts of forbidden things.

Source: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (2007 edition), “Teachings of Lord Kapila, The Son of Devahuti”, Page 108